Stay Safe on Social Media: Protect Your Account and Spot Scams

Why focus on social networks?

A profile reveals a lot: name, location, employer, friends, vacation plans. Compromised accounts are valuable to scammers because friends trust a message that looks like it comes from you. A hacked profile can quickly be exploited to request money in your name or to spread malicious links.

Protecting your account

• Use a unique, long password **only for this network**.
• Enable two‑factor authentication – preferably with an app or passkey rather than SMS.
• Regularly review the devices listed in the security settings and log out any unfamiliar ones.
• Remove apps and games that you once granted access to and no longer use.

Setting privacy correctly

• Configure your profile so that only friends can see your posts.
• Hide your phone number, birth date, and friend list.
• Post vacation photos only after you return – otherwise everyone can see that your apartment is empty.
• Before sharing, check whether a photo reveals its location. Our photo‑check will show you and strip that data.

Common scams

• A message from a friend: “Is that you in the video?” with a link – leads to a fake login page.
• “Your account violates our policies, confirm here.” Genuine platforms never send such notices via direct message.
• Sweepstakes from big brands where you’re asked only to pay for shipping.
• Buy‑and‑sell groups where someone requests payment outside the platform.
• A request for a code “you just received by SMS” – criminals use this to seize your account.

Suspicious link or sender?

Verify links with our link‑check before clicking. If a friend asks for something odd, double‑check via another channel, like a phone call.

Account taken over?

• Reset your password immediately and log out from all other devices.
• Verify your email address and phone number in the settings – attackers often change them.
• Use the platform’s recovery form if you can’t log back in.
• Warn your contacts about messages sent in your name.

Our first‑aid page walks you through every step.

And the VPN?

A VPN protects your connection on public Wi‑Fi from eavesdroppers and hides your IP from links that log clicks. Against fraud in messages, only a vigilant eye can keep you safe.